Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.">
Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.">
Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.">

Microsoft's Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.

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Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.
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Microsoft's Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.

Microsoft has taken over an old art school in deepest darkest Chelsea for three months before it's knocked down and replaced by (yet another) block of luxury flats.

The most interesting thing on show was MSTV - Microsoft's IPTV service, which will be launching in late summer next year. Microsoft will be offering the service to broadband suppliers, who can then offer it to their customers - BT is currently signed up for launch.

For around a hundred quid you'll get a box to access the service, which also provides PVR functionality such as pause/rewind live broadcasts. The basic service, which will have a comparable line-up to FTA (free to air) digital TV, will be free. There'll also be additional on-demand content, priced on a pay-as-you-go basis.

There's the ability to create a channel from your own content (like home videos), and then share it with your friends. Similar to instant messaging applications, you can keep a buddy list of contacts and chat with them as you're both watching telly.

Microsoft also had a working Xbox 360 on show (no games, though). Since the 360 includes all the necessary gubbins to function as a Media Center Extender it looks like Microsoft isn't going to introduce standalone Extenders (like the one we reviewed in the Mar 05 issue) into the UK market, and just go with the 360 instead. Apparently, a standalone Extender and a 360 would work out at about the same price anyway.

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Will Head said: Comments,Will Head,...relationship with a Microsoft partner then they should be able to sort it out.
The deal is no different to the Orange Home - if anything I think it's easier to get access to.
(Oh and characters limits for comments are way too short, another thing for the to-do list)

Will Head said: Comments,Will Head,Hi kjrider,
"I wanted to go along and see it. After much searching on the UK MS webpage I found it was invite only! Pity he didn't mention it in the article."
I knew there was something I missed out - I spoke to Microsoft about this while I was there. Yes, it is invitation only - but (and I'm going from memory here) Microsoft partners can arrange visits, so if you want to go along and you have a relationship with a Microsoft partner then th

kjrider said: Comments,kjrider,I wanted to go along and see it. After much searching on the UK MS webpage I found it was invite only! Pity he didn't mention it in the article. Linux - try the Ubuntu version - its great. Ran first time and fould all my hardware OK.

Will Head said: Comments,Will Head,floydking - I think I'm sensing you're a bit of a Linux fan... and yes, there's something up with the order in which comments appear - will sort that on Monday.

Floydking 23 said: Comments,Floydking 23,Phew! Success at last. Of a sort anyway. Not the fault of the operating system, but the author, who shouldn't be able to change to Linux according to the propaganda machine.To anyone who read it, you have done something that must have been much more difficult than switching to Linux. So you must be perfect material to come and join us.So endeth the sermon!

Floydking 22 said: Comments,Floydking 22,page 7 should end:become open source then perhaps someone else would tweak it, improve it and then they may take the MONEY for it. Poor old Bill, all he is left with is a 'gut ache' incase someone else should make a few dollars out of his 'baby' and the large bank account containing the money that he has teased out of so many of us.

floydking 21 said: Comments,floydking 21,first page should end:Bill and the boyspage 2 should end: Windows requires you to run moment you install it. page 2 (second varient) should end: prefer the darkroompage 2+2-1 should end: crashes, because the FREE first CD is also a reboot and repair disk.If it weren't so secure, why do you think so many governments, both national and local use it? Why do so many Universities use it? Why is the apache

FloydKing 20 said: Comments,FloydKing 20,I'm sorry about some of the terrible editing, but by putting that up in such a messy state only proves that I am indeed not about to accept a professorship.

FloydKing 19ish said: Comments,FloydKing 19ish,PC advisor would do well to use at least half it's software pages for Linux in the next issue to be sent to the printers, not the one after, the next one. I certainly look forward to reading that as I usually do.All the above is the opinion of Graham Powell, they are honest though obviously subjective

FloydKing 17 said: Comments,FloydKing 17,You know that if you don't do it another day of your computing life is over and still you pay the MONEY and you waste your LIFE.I apologise if their are any formatting problems with this piece, but it has been very difficult writing it in such a small Window and then cutting into pieces now I can't blame Windows for that.

FloydKing 16? said: Comments,FloydKing 16?,Steve Jobs and his expensive APPLES should be forgotten for the same reasons as above, though perhaps not to the same extent. As for me, I look forward to greeting those of you who vote with their HEADS and their POCKETS.

FloydKing 13 said: Comments,FloydKing 13,Changing over isn't a choice it's a must, to save your SANITY and your MONEY, you could argue that you couldn't have the first if you don't have the second.If you all understand the joke that Microsoft are thrusting upon you, you will ALL emigrate to a Linux distro.

FloydKing 12 said: Comments,FloydKing 12,virus writers and then along comes trouble, but I agree with PARANOID Bill, most of you probably won't, because you don't feel you can afford the time/effort/inconvenience of using a different system. Yet when Vista comes along with all it's 3D desktop gimmickry you will be prepared to change to that. You will probably be exited by it. Then one day you'll hear that Linux has a 3D desktop for FREE. Maybe that will happen even before Vista?

FloydKing 10? said: Comments,FloydKing 10?,a quarter of the price that they themselves were charging, so companies such as ICL thrived. IBM are not at all PARANOID and still THRIVING in their own specialised fields.The time to stop being conned is now, immediately, don't put it off until tomorrow, you are wasting both your LIFE and your MONEY.I'm sure that many Linux users will want to stamp on me for letting out the secrets, because if you all join us, some of you will inevitably be

FloydKing 8? said: Comments,FloydKing 8?,It was brought in to being by a man who once worked with IBM and wished to add to their system. When he was told that he couldn't he decided to launch a similar system and called it Linux. However, IBM didn't jealously keep their code anywhere near as secret as PARANOID Bill. As for their mainframe hardware they allowed any one to make exact copies without suing. Then they allowed these people to lease their hardware to others for approximately

floydking - continued - 7 said: Comments,floydking - continued - 7,Why is the apache variant used to build so many important websites? Certainly not because it's difficult. Neither because it's free, institutes like these have sufficient money to squander on Windows if the wish. It's largely because the guys and gals in Seattle keep their code strictly hidden, so no one outside can IMPROVE it, as well as all the reasons given above. Bill is beginning to suffer from his own PARANOIA, if he allowed his system to b

floydking - continued - 2+2 - said: Comments,floydking - continued - 2+2 -,There's sure to be something that appeals to you. And no it's not frightening, it's easy. If you can set up and run Windows, then you can EASILY set up and run Linux. You will actually find that you are too clever, because there is so little to know about firewalls - inbuilt in Suse Linux for FREE, anti-virus is barely needed, although Suse Linux 10 has one for FREE.

floydking - continued - 2+2 said: Comments,floydking - continued - 2+2,Whatever, how many of us (even though I have got it) requires anything as comprehensive as Photoshop. Frankly how many of us can even afford it unless we need it/thought we may need it as a work tool. From what I've been studying during the past few months, I would say: set yourself FREE of XP, or any other Windows system and choose your own flavour of Linux instead.

floydking - continued -2 said: Comments,floydking - continued -2,it's FREE of most of the maintenace programs that Windows requires you to run moment you install it.During it's time of rest on my computer desk I've frequently searched the internet for certain programs that I've required only to find that they are ALREADY sitting infront of me on the desktop.I don't know if there's anything available to match 'Photoshop' yet and being a photographer that may seem weird. Only I much prefer and always will pr

floydking - continued -2 said: Comments,floydking - continued -2,Microsucks.It's as easy to install as XP, it has very few security issues, very low maintainance and it does the everything better/ as well/or very nearly as well as anything that the Redmond mob has to offer. Not only that, but it's FREE. It has a great OFFICE SUITE for FREE, a Nero equivalent for FREE, it's FREE of the tantrums that Windows can often throw from the start, it's FREE of most of the maintenace programs that Windows the moment y

floydking said: Comments,floydking,Alternatively, emigrate to Linux 9.3, as I have recently. At last I've completely left the crashing, hanging, frequently frustrating world of Windows period XP Pro.Whatever you've heard about the difficulties about installing and using Linux forget it.All the talk about only Professors, intellectuals, sandle wearing hippies and weirdo geeks using it are simply a lie promulgated by the crushing tank that calls itself Microsoft, Bill and th

Forum Editor said: Comments,Forum Editor,I really like the sound of MSTV. If they get the content right, and BT sorts us all out with a fast enough downstream connection it will be a winner.